Archive for the ‘celebrate it’ Category

Wow, what a week!  Crazy and wonderful.  This Christmas has been nothing short of magical.

We celebrated with old traditions and one cool new one inspired by the movie Tangled.  Have you seen it?  My girls and I went together and loved it.  The scene we loved the most was the flying lanterns.

Much to our delight, we discovered that Chinese Sky Lanterns are REAL…. and that you can make or buy them.  With only a short time ’til Christmas and no time for a big project, I opted to buy a few from Amazon.

Image via www.skylighter.com

Despite a deep fog swirling around our home on Christmas Eve, we all bundled up and went outside.  I carefully waved the lantern to fill it with air.  Then my husband lit the center fuel disk.  It was dramatic and a little scary as it took flame.  I held the lantern while the flame heated the air inside.  The kids held their breath.  When the lantern began to tug in my hands, I let it go.  As it rose my kids said it looked like the star of Bethlehem.

The lantern was much larger than I expected, the flames much more powerful.  This is not an activity I would recommend in a dry environment or on a windy day.  It also wasn’t for the kids to handle.  But those warnings aside, it was truly magical to see.  I can only imagine sending multiple balloons all at once would make it all the more cool… which I will soon find out… since we will be letting more off at my parent-in-laws’ New Year’s Celebration.

Wow, it’s time to wrap things up and in a hurry!

Today I’m running to the grocery store, cooking, and CLEANING.  Then I need to get a little wrapping and sewing done.  I am hoping to channel the kids nervous energy by having them scrub a few sinks and floors.

Today I need to make a last batch of Orange-Glazed Poppy Seed Bread for gifts and sugar cookies to decorate tomorrow.  Tomorrow I’ll be making my FAVORITE dessert, maybe of all time, Croissant Bread Pudding for our Christmas Eve dinner.

Yesterday we checked one more thing off the list by heading up to Mamaw’s to felt our Christmas Eve slippers.  Have you done that before?

These slippers are also on my list of favorite things.  I am lucky enough to have my husband’s mother who is willing to knit them for us.

I should have put my hand in the shot because you can’t tell from the picture, but these slippers would fit Hagrid!

But not for long.  We throw the wool slippers into a hot water washing machine.  Then you stay close by and set the timer to check their progress.  Once they start felting you check them often or they will shrink too small.  I am happy to say yesterday’s felting was a great success.

These slippers are incredibly warm and wonderful.  They takes two to three days to dry so hopefully they will be ready by Christmas Eve.  (Hopefully too the Christmas Eve cozies (PJ pants) will be ready too!)

I’m sure your check lists are as full as mine!  I wish you all a productive day.  I’m getting so excited I can hardly wait.